Well said, SN3. My experience over many years has been that if an engine is consistantly difficult to start (or is becoming more & more difficult to start) when using correct technique then there is a problem with it and it's time to talk to your engineers/mechanics. With detail about how, what, when, any common factors etc. so they can diagnose the problem. I can't think of any problems that haven't been able to be solved by them (eventually. Bloody intermittent problems are a curse!)